Chapter 18 Vocab

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment.

Question 2

Biotic

Answer 2

Describes living factors in the environment.

Question 3

Abiotic

Answer 3

Describes the no living part of the environment, including water, rocks, light, and temperature.

Question 4

Population

Answer 4

A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area.

Question 5

Community

Answer 5

All the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.

Question 6

Ecosystem

Answer 6

A community of organisms and their abiotic environment.

Question 7

Biosphere

Answer 7

The part of Earth where life exists.

Question 8

Herbivore

Answer 8

An organism that eats only plants.

Question 9

Carnivore

Answer 9

An organism that eats animals.

Question 10

Omnivore

Answer 10

An organism that eats both plants and animals.

Question 11

Food Chain

Answer 11

The pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms.

Question 12

Food Web

Answer 12

A diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 13

Energy Pyramid

Answer 13

A triangular diagram that shows an ecosystems loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem’s food chain.

Question 14

Carrying Capacity

Answer 14

The largest population that an environment can support at any given time.

Question 15

Prey

Answer 15

An a organism that is killed and eaten by another organism.

Question 16

Predator

Answer 16

An organism that eats all or part of another organism.

Question 17

Symbiosis

Answer 17

A relationship in which two differs organisms live in close association with each other.

Question 18

Mutualism

Answer 18

A relationship between two organisms in which both species benefit.

Question 19

Commensalism

Answer 19

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Question 20

Parasitism

Answer 20

A relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed.

Question 21

Coevolution

Answer 21

The evolution of two species that is due to mutual influence, often in a way that makes the relationship more beneficial to both species.